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Bonanza

The Abduction

Season 2, Episode 8, Aired Oct 29, 1960

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Joe and Hoss take their dates to a bizarre traveling carnival and Joe's girlfriend Jennifer disappears. She's abducted by the evil owner, Phillip Reed, and held for one million dollars ransom. Reed's girlfriend Della is jealous of the attractive hostage and spills the beans to Joe. He and Hoss tear the circus apart to find her, meeting resistance from the carny folk.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Gerald Mohr

Phil Reed
GUEST STAR
Barbara Lawrence

Della Thompson
GUEST STAR
Jackie Russell

Jennifer Beale

Dan Blocker

Eric "Hoss" Cartwright (1959-1972)
Lorne Greene

Ben Cartwright
Pernell Roberts

Adam Cartwright (1959-1965)
Michael Landon

Joseph "Little Joe" Francis Cartwright

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Over-complicated for a "Bonanza" episode, the situations also put the writing and staging in a pretty bad light.

3.0

"Bad"

By Mac-Ale, May 23, 2011

Joe and Hoss search a carnival for the abducted daughter of a wealthy local.

There's never a lot to most "Bonanza" episodes and in a way this is no exception, but it strays from the series' strength and shows its age badly. A carnival has come to the Comstock, and the evil knife thrower and the owner conspire to kidnap the free spirited young lady who accompanies Little Joe to the festivities - and hold her for ransom. There's a number of twists, the long-suffering carnival woman who loses her life doing the right thing, a gigantic strong man to serve as a foil to Hoss, a cryptic fat lady who knows all, and a bearded woman who has a comedic attraction to Joe.

At the same time, the dialog is stilted, the search is all over the map with characters ducking under about 50 canvas tent flaps and, still, there is really not a lot of sense of excitement built up by it all.

"Bonanza" can be entertaining, this one falls flat on its face, though its interesting to watch in the context of Westerns of the time.moreless
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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (2)
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- Ben Cartwright: Virginia City's really come of age, now that the carnival circuit is here.
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- Joe: Don't worry Pa. I'll keep an eye on them. Adam: Sure Pa but who'll keep an eye on him. Ben: That's easy - Hoss will. Isn't that right Hoss? Hoss: Huh...I mean sir. Adam: He'll do fine Pa. Ask no more.
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NOTES (2)
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- German episode title: "Die Entführung der Jennifer Beale", meaning "The Abduction Of Jennifer Beale".
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- Featured Cartwright: Joe and Hoss
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